Monte Carlo modeling of diagnostic x-ray scatter

The scattering of diagnostic energy x-rays is difficult to theoretically predict due to the large variation in the factors that effect the scatter. NCRP Report No. 49 is a guideline used by Medical Physicists to calculate the shielding requirements of typical diagnostic rooms for hospitals and clinics. The shielding calculations are required for primary, leakage, and scatter radiation. Recent refinements in EGS4 Monte Carlo code have made it more suitable to model the low energy scattering phenomena in a diagnostic room for typical x-ray machines, and standard imaging techniques. The EGS4 code was used to model typical diagnostic x-ray procedures under previously documented conditions. Measurements were taken under strict conditions of previously published experimental data to verify, and update the data. This experiment tests the usefulness of the EGS4 code for this purpose.